This paper argues two points which in turn support each other: The apostle Paul believed that Christians had an ethical responsibility to be willing to relinquish their power over others and that the slaveowner Philemon was not truly Christian if he refused to liberate his slave Onesimus to the status of an equal.

The Greek word koinonia is very important in New Testament studies. In my opinion, it is central to understanding Paul's letter to Philemon as well as the big picture Christian view of slavery and social power. This paper focuses on how we should translate koinonia in Philemon, which then has major implications for how we should interpret the epistle.